San Juan, Metro Manila,
Nov. 27, 2000 (BULLETIN) - When
most everyone thought she had completely turned her back on the other love
of her life, singing and dancing, she proved them all wrong. She revived
her famous sing–and–dance act with The Kit–Kats and chose Cebu City as
the first venue for a series of provincial shows she hopes to do to support
a foundation that helps poor families in Parañaque City, where husband
Joey Marquez sits as mayor, bury their dead.

And what she got was a rousing
reception fit for a returning queen.

Bedazzled were the Cebuanos
who filled Teatro Casino in Lahug to capacity one Saturday night when the
erstwhile queen of TV musical variety shows brought her sing–and–dance
act to her adopted city.

As graceful as ever, Loveli–Ness,
born in Ilocos Sur but educated in Cebu City from elementary through high
school, got tremendous support from a brilliant cast of performers that
included her gems of a son and daughter (Yeoj, 10 and Win–wyn, 8) Vandolf,
Eric Quizon, LJ Moreno, and multi–talented Leonard Obal.

As pretty – in fact, many say
she’s prettier now than before – as ever and still showing the curves unmatched
in local cinema once upon a time, Venessa (many thought it was Vanessa)
Lacsamana–Marquez, her real name, may have lost some of the litheness and
lightness of youth, which is understandable and inevitable, but her eyes
clearly glowed with the total happiness of one who has not lost her childlike
fascination with her craft. Whether she was singing or dancing, her face
radiated pure joy.

As expected, she stole the
thunder from the younger performers. Whether dancing with the youthful
SOP Dancers or in tandem with her “Loveli–Ness” partner Raffy Chan, she
oozed with pure energy and amazing grace. She was particularly outstanding
in the opening number that at one point required a breath–stopping acrobat
and during the portion where she and daughter Win–Wyn got to dance most
of the current Top 10 songs.

There’s no doubting that Alma
Moreno can still dance and carry a show.

In a way, the fast–paced, two–and–a–half–hour
show also presaged an impending changing of the guard as evidenced by the
great applause the audience bestowed on Win–Wyn Marquez, who’s’ clearly
following in her mother’s footsteps. She has her famous mom’s commanding
stage presence, swan–like gracefulness, enthusiasm and pure energy. From
who else did she inherit the correct angling of the chin and toes, flick
of wrists and fingers, and fluttering of the eyes while doing intricate
dance steps?

Not to be outdone, Yeoj, her
brother, was a show–stopper himself. Why, the kid, who’s as handsome as
his father, Parañaque City Mayor Joey Marquez, showed he can sing
and dance as well.

Another revelation during the
show, conceptualized in support of the shining star’s Libreng Libing Foundation,
Inc., was The Kit–Kats made up of Raffy, Norman, Mida, Nimfa and Michael,
the singing champion from Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

And guess who came to the show
for which Alma Moreno the concert organizer had to transport a cast of
25? No less than two of showbiz’s most durable couples – Eddie Guttierez
and Annabelle Rama and Manny Paner and Daisy Romualdez. Also present were
Michael Locsin and his charming wife, the former Charmaine Rivera who was
Secret’s first image model.

The four were seen highly appreciating
the performances of Win–wyn and Yeoj.

A lot of credit for the tremendous
success of the show should also go to show director Boots Plata, choreographer
Geleen Eugenio, executive producer Melissa Valderrama, and production manager
Ricky Torres.

Word about the tremendous success
of Loveli–Ness and The Kit–Kats in Cebu flew thick and fast and has left
the sing–and–dance group swamped with many offers to perform not only in
the provinces but outside the country as well. Of these invitations, Alma
is considering Laoag early next year, Bohol, Bacolod, Baguio, and Saipan.

This early, Loveli–Ness is
already mentally calculating how many coffins she would be able to buy
out of these shows for her Libreng Libing Foundation.